Hand hold face opening and spindle device for insertion or removal of key operated mechanism



March 3 1965 F. J. RUSSELL ETAL HAND HOLD FACE OPENING AND SPINDLE DEVICE FOR INSERTION OR REMOVAL OF KEY OPERATED MECHANISM Filed Dec. 6, 1962 F250 J3 RUSSELL- JOSEPH D. WIT-r .52 J. Hog/H INVENTORS ATTORNEVS United States Patent HAND HOLD FACE OPENING AND SPINDLE DE- VICE FGR INSER'IION 0R REIVIOVAL OF KEY OPERATED MECHANISM Fred J. Russell, 3890 Don Felipe Drive, Los Angeles, Calif., and Joseph D. Witt, Whittier, and Roger J. Nolin, Monterey Park, Calif.; said Witt and said Nolin assignors to said Russell Filed Dec. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 242,677 3 Claims. (Cl. 70-224) The disclosure here under consideration is one relating to door locks and key-operated mechanism associated with door locks which need to be retained in position during use but which also need to be constructed in such fashion that the key-operated mechanism can be removed and replaced when occasion requires. This is a continuation-in-part of Serial No. 240,986, filed November 29, 1962, and Serial No. 242,541, filed December 5, 1962.

The current trend in the manufacture of door locks is to assemble as much as possible of the mechanism compactly in a small space, usually in axial alignment with the hand hold or knob as the case may be. More particularly, much of the mechanism is housed within the spindle attached to the knob and which carries the rotary motion of the knob to the latching or locking mechanism. Because there is relatively little space available for the assembly of the various operating parts of a door lock, improvements and changes which are brought about from time to time have to take into consideration the rather confined spaced and limited opportunity for moving parts to be shifted one with respect to the other.

From time to time, the key-operated mechanism needs to be removed and replaced, rekeying of the key-operated mechanism being frequently necessary. It is important that authorized removal be simple and easy to execute, and, further that the lock parts involved be kept relatively few in number and of relatively simple construction.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved retaining and releasing means for a key-operated mechanism which is mounted upon the spindle at a location preferably within the confines of the hand hold and which engages whatever locking mechanism is employed in a secure fashion but which can be quickly and easily disengaged by authorized means without the necessity of first removing the hand hold.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved retaining and releasing subassembly for incorporation in a lock spindle which can reach through the spindle into releasable engagement with the keyoperated mechanism without disturbing the attachment of the knob or other type of hand hold to either hold or release the mechanism as required.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved door lock wherein the key-operated mechanism is releasably retained in the spindle against endwise movement in such fashion that the mechanism can be released by manipulation of a detent from the exterior and wherein the hand hold or knob is so constructed that the mechanism can be removed outwardly through the knob without it being necessary to first remove the knob.

Still further among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved releasing device for a keyoperated mechanism assembled with a knob and spindle, in such fashion that a retaining device operating transversely with respect to the axis of the spindle can be operated to either retain or remove a key-operated mechanism within the spindle, permitting it to pass through the face plate of the knob and at the same time continue to hold the knob in place on the spindle by the same agency.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view of a door lock in mounted position on a door showing the keyoperated mechanism retained in operating position;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken along a line at with respect to FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the key-operated mechanism removed;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2, but with two different key-operated tail piece positions shown.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the retaining means.

In an embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown a section of door It) upon which the lock is mounted by employment of a bushing 11, in the customary, conventional fashion, the bushing having a spindle 12 rotatably mounted therein. A trim sleeve 13 surrounds and is spaced from the bushing leaving a space 14 therebetween and a rosette 15 is applied in the usual fashion to dress up the exterior. In this form of the invention, a hand hold or knob 16 is provided with a neck 17 of sufficient length and inside diameter to engage over the exterior of the bushing 11. A face portion 19 of the knob is provided with an opening 18 in line with the spindle 12.

Mounted in the outer end of the spindle 12 is a keyoperated mechanism indicated generally by the reference character 2%. The key-operated mechanism in the embodiment shown includes a cylindrical casing 21 on one side of which is a pin tumbler housing 22 which is actually part of the casing. The pin tumbler housing extends outwardly through a cutout 25 in the spindle 12 thereby to make the key-operated mechanism 2i nonrotatable relative to the spindle.

In addition to the opening 18 in the face portion 19 of the knob, there is additionally provided a cutout or recess 23 which joins the opening 18, the recess having approximately the same proportion and size as does the cross-sectional area of the pin tumbler housing 22. Accordingly, the opening provided by the recess 23 and the first-described opening 18 taken together is such as to accommodate the cylindrical casing 21 and pin tumbler housing 22 together when the key-operated mechanism 20 passes outwardly and inwardly through the face portion 19 of the knob 16.

There is a recess providing an annular shoulder 24 around the recess 23 on the inner side of the face portion 19. The end of the spindle l2 fits within the recess against the shoulder thereby to provide a stable mounting for the outer end of the knob.

The cylindrical casing 21 is provided with a cylinder plug evidenced by an outer end 26 of the plug and a cap 27 at the inner end. The cap is spaced inwardly with respect to the cylindrical casing 21 leaving a space 28 and exposing a configuration identified by the shoulder 29. In the spindle 12 is a hole 30 which falls in alignment with the space 28 and the shoulder 29.

A keeper assembly of cooperating parts consists of a keeper member 31 and a retaining member 32, the shape and form of the keeper member being shown advantageously in FIGURE and the retaining member being shown in perspective view in FIGURE 7. The retaining member 32 in the embodiment shown is an arcuate resilient leaf spring element consisting of legs 33 and 34 terminating in tips 35 and 36 at one end and joined together at the other end, The legs are long enough so that they extend around the exterior of the spindle 12 and are retained in snug engagement therewith by the spring tension of the member. An extension 37 on one side of the member has a retaining tab 38 at the end which extends radially inwardly as shown in FIGURE 1 through the hole 30 and into engagement with the shoulder 29 when in assembled position for retaining the keyoperated mechanism 20 in place.

The keeper member 31 comprises a retaining end 39, a mid-portion 40 and a boss 41 at the opposite end terminating in a pressure end 42. Shoulders 44 and 45 are adapted in one extreme position to bear against the interior of the spindle 12 and shoulders 46 and 47 at the other end are adapted to bear against the legs 33 and 34. In the spindle 12 is a hole 48, and in the neck 17 is a hole 49 in alignment with the hole 48 and lying Within which is the retainer end 39 of the keeper member 31. A larger hole 50 on the opposite side of the spindle accommodates the mid-portion 40 of the keeper member in sliding relationship. The boss 41 fits in a hole 41' in the retaining member 32.

When the key-operated mechanism 20 is to be removed from the assembled position of FIGURE 1, the retainer end 39 is pressed inwardly as by use of a screwdriver or other appropriate conventional tool far enough so that when the shoulders 46 and 47 press against the corresponding legs 33 and 34 of the retaining member 32 the tab 38 will be lifted clear of the shoulder 29. Movement of the keeper member 31 far enough to accomplish dis engagement of the tab 38 may still be made insuificient to have the retainer end 39 of the keeper member 31 clear the hole 49 in the neck 17. Accordingly, the neck 17, during this portion of the operation, will remain secured in nonrotatable relationship to the spindle 12 but the key-operated mechanism 20 will be released. In accordance with preferred practice, this will be possible only when a tailpiece 51 from the key-operated mechanism 20 lies in the full line position shown in FIGURE 5. Accordingly, by manipulation of a key 52 and by withdrawing upon the key, the entire key-operated mechanism 20 is withdrawn axially outwardly of the spindle 12 and through the face portion 19 of the knob 16 to substantially the position shown in FIGURE 4. As has been indicated, a hole 53 in the keeper member 31 is substantially larger than the tailpiece 51 and amply accommodates it. In the solid line position of the tailpiece 51 as shown in FIGURE 5, a cutout 54 permits movement of the keeper member 31 despite the interposition of the tailpiece 51. When, however, the key-operated mechanism 20 is rotated to a position which will cause a counterclockwise rotation of the tailpiece 51 to the broken line position, as viewed in FIGURE 5, a projection 55 will be in alignment with the tailpiece 51, and in this position of the key-operated mechanism 20, the keeper member 31 cannot be moved to release any of the parts.

When the key-operated mechanism 2% is to be replaced, its tailpiece 51 must be rotated by manipulation of the key 52 to the solid line position shown in FIGURE 5, and be slid endwise through the face portion 19 and the opening therein from right to left as viewed in FIG- URE 4 and forced inwardly while the retaining end 39 is depressed, until the tab 38 overlies the space 28 and returns to the engaged position as shown in FIGURE 1. In this position a front face 56 on the pin tumbler housing 22 ordinarily lies flush with the front face of the face portion 19.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein btli. is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Have described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. A tubular lock spindle and a hand hold having a non-rotatable mounting on said spindle, said hand hold having an opening therethrough on the outer end, a keyoperated mechanism having a portion located in said opening, said portion having a shape and size corresponding to the shape and size of said opening and portions of said key-operated mechanism inwardly of said opening having a shape and size not greater than the shape and size of said opening, a keeper assembly on said spindle comprising a first retaining portion in releasable engagement with said key-operated mechanism and a second retaining portion in engagement with said spindle, said hand hold having an opening therein in alignment with said second retaining portion and into which said second retaining portion extends, said keeper assembly being shiftable to a position wherein said first retaining portion is released from engagement with said key-operated mechanism whereby said key-operated mechanism is adapted to be withdrawn through said hand hold opening to the exterior.

2. A tubular lock spindle and a hand hold having a non-rotatable mounting on said spindle, said hand hold having an opening therethrough on the outer end, a key operated mechanism having a portion located in said opening, said portion having a shape and size correspond= ing to the shape and size of said opening, said shape and size being different from the shape and size of said spindle, a keeper assembly on said spindle comprising a first re taining portion in releasable engagement with said key operated mechanism and a second portion in engagement with said spindle, said hand hold having an opening there= in in alignment with said second retaining portion and into which said second retaining portion extends, said portion of the key-operated mechanism in said opening substantially filling said opening when the key-operated mechanism is retained in assembled position by said keeper assembly, said keeper assembly being shiftable to a position wherein said first retaining portion of the keeper assembly is released from engagement with said key operated mechanism whereby said key-operated mechanism is adapted to be withdrawn through said hand hold to the exterior.

3. A tubular lock spindle and a hand hold having a non-rotatable mounting on said spindle, said hand hold having an opening therethrough on the outer end, a keyoperated mechanism having a portion located in said opening, said portion having a cross-sectional shape and size corresponding in shape and size to the cross-sectional shape and size of said opening, a keeper assembly on said spindle comprising one portion in releasable engagement with said key-operated mechanism and another portion lying in a transverse position in said spindle, said other portion of the keeper assembly being in releasable engagement with said hand hold and having an opening therethrough, and a tailpiece on said key-operated mech-- anism extending through said last identified opening, said tailpiece having a blocking engagement with the edge of said last identified opening when said key-operated mech-- anism is locked whereby to prevent release of said key-- operated mechanism and having a nonblocking released position when said key-operated mechanism is unlocked whereby to enable release of said key-operated mechanism, said keeper assembly being shiftable to a position released from engagement with said key-operated mech- 5 anism whereby said key-operated mechanism is adapted to be Withdrawn through said hand hold to the exterior.

ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TUBULAR LOCK SPINDLE AND A HAND HOLDING HAVING A NON-ROTATABLE MOUNTING ON SAID SPINDLE, SAID HAND HOLD HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH ON THE OUTER END, A KEYOPERATED MECHANISM HAVING A PORTION LOCATED IN SAID OPENING, SAID PORTION HAVING A SHAPE AND SIZE CORRESPONDING TO THE SHAPE AND SIZE OF SAID OPENING AND PORTIONS OF SAID KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM INWARDLY OF SAID OPENING HAVING A SHAPE AND SIZE NOT GREATER THAN THE SHAPE AND SIZE OF SAID OPENING, A KEEPER ASSEMBLY ON SAID SPINDLE COMPRISING A FIRST RETAINING PORTION IN RELEASABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM AND A SECOND RETAINING PORTION IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SPINDLE, SAID HAND HOLD HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID SECOND RETAINING PORTION AND INTO WHICH SAID SECOND RETAINING PORTION EXTENDS, SAID KEEPER ASSEMBLY BEING SHIFTABLE TO A POSITION WHEREIN SAID FIRST RETAIING PORTION IS RELEASED FROM ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM WHEREBY SAID KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM IS ADAPTED TO BE WITHDRAWN THROUGH SAID HAND HOLD OPENING TO THE EXTERIOR. 